Authorities found the body of eight-year-old John Ysmael, son of Senior Master Sgt. Diane Marie Mollenido, at a calamansi farm in Tarlac. The child’s remains were wrapped in plastic, and police confirmed the discovery on January 30, 2026. Photo courtesy of Southern Police District.
Police Senior Master Sgt. Diane Mollenido and her son, John Ysmael, were found dead following an alleged scam involving a supposed car sale, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Tuesday.
The transaction began in December 2025 when Mollenido sought to buy a Montero through an agent, Pia Katrina Chua Panganiban, NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said.
Investigators said the Montero did not exist, prompting a dispute between the parties that may have led to the killings.
Mollenido reportedly paid Panganiban a down payment of Php 550,000 on December 18 and intended to sell her Innova to complete the payment. The final transaction took place at Panganiban’s home on January 16, 2026.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla identified Panganiban and her husband, dismissed police officer Christian Panganiban, as the main suspects. He added that Pia had a previous estafa complaint filed in July 2024.
Mollenido and her son were last seen at Panganiban’s residence in Novaliches, Quezon City, on January 16. Diane was later found in a creek in Bulacan on January 24, and her son was discovered in a grassy area on a farm in Tarlac on January 29.
Officials said John was not meant to be involved in the transaction. Remulla explained that he was killed because he could identify the suspects, even though the original plan targeted only his mother.
The NCRPO added that Pia had submitted a sworn statement naming Mollenido’s husband, Police Senior Master Sgt. John Mollenido, as a suspect. His legal counsel, Cristobal Rimando, has maintained his client’s innocence.